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Studies & Degrees in Computational Mathematical Sciences

Computational mathematical sciences sit where mathematics, statistics and computer science meet. Students learn to describe a problem with a mathematical model, to design an algorithm that solves it, and to program and test that algorithm on a computer. The problems come from many fields: the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) describes its degree as one that combines mathematics and computer science to solve complex problems in engineering, biology, economics or digital security.

The subject is not the same as computer science. The Department of Scientific Computing of Florida State University puts the difference this way: computer science is about the science of computers, whereas computational science is about the use of computers to solve science and engineering problems. A typical programme therefore includes calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, numerical methods, optimisation, programming and data analysis.

Qualifications and levels

The name of the degree changes from one university to another. Look for titles such as computational mathematics, applied and computational mathematical sciences, mathematics of computation, scientific computing, or joint degrees in mathematics and computer science.

  • Bachelor's degrees. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, and 60 ECTS credits correspond to one full year of study. The Bachelor's Degree in Computational Mathematics at UJI in Castellón de la Plana has 240 credits and 30 places for new students. In the United States, the University of Washington offers Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences (ACMS) as a multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science taught jointly by its departments of applied mathematics, mathematics, statistics and computer science. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has a major called Mathematics of Computation, for students interested in the mathematical theory and the applications of computing. Florida State University offers a B.S. in Computational Science. In the United Kingdom, Imperial College London teaches a three-year BEng in Mathematics and Computer Science.
  • Master's degrees. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. UJI lists a university master's degree in Computational Mathematics of 60 credits with 15 places. Imperial College London offers an MSc in Applied Mathematics that takes one year full-time or two years part-time and trains students in mathematical modelling, analysis and computation. Florida State University offers an M.S. in Computational Science.
  • Doctorate. Research careers usually require a PhD. Florida State University, for example, has a Ph.D. in Computational Science.

Students who prefer a broader start can take a general degree in mathematics, such as the Grado en Matemáticas of the Universidad de Sevilla, and specialise in computation at master's level.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 12 active schools for computational mathematical sciences. Seven are in the United States, two in Spain, two in Brazil and one in the United Kingdom. The list includes the University of Washington in Seattle, UCLA and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, San Diego State University, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Florida State University in Tallahassee, Imperial College London, the Universitat Jaume I and the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, and the Universidade Federal do Ceará and the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil.

Programmes are normally taught in the language of the country, and the working language of programming and of most research literature is English. Check the language of instruction and the mathematics entry requirements of each programme before applying, because admission usually depends on a strong school record in mathematics.

Careers

Graduates work wherever large amounts of data or complex models have to be handled: software and technology companies, banks and insurers, engineering firms, research centres and public bodies. Common job titles include data analyst, data scientist, quantitative analyst, software developer, operations research analyst and research scientist.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes mathematicians and statisticians as people who analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems, and names the federal government and scientific research and development companies as their top employers. It states that these occupations typically need at least a master's degree, although some positions are open to people with a bachelor's degree. It projects employment of mathematicians and statisticians in the United States to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,000 openings each year. These figures describe the United States only; prospects in other countries depend on the local labour market.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between computational mathematics and computer science?

Computer science studies computers and software themselves. Computational mathematics and computational science use computers as a tool to solve mathematical, scientific and engineering problems, so the degree contains more mathematics and statistics.

How long does a degree in computational mathematics take?

It depends on the country. An official bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits, which is four years of full-time study, and a master's degree has 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The BEng in Mathematics and Computer Science at Imperial College London takes three years.

Do I need a master's degree to work in this field?

Not always. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master's degree, but some positions are available with a bachelor's degree.

Where can I study computational mathematics in Spain?

The Universitat Jaume I in Castellón de la Plana offers a bachelor's degree in Computational Mathematics of 240 credits and a university master's degree of 60 credits in the same field. The Universidad de Sevilla is also listed for this subject.